President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on member countries of the regional body to, as a matter of necessity, ratify and fully implement the ECOWAS Protocol against Corruption.

From mere commitment and intention, he urged ECOWAS member states to take action by implementing the anti-graft protocol, maintaining that the region’s future hinges on its capacity to build governance structures that are not just transparent, accountable, and efficient, but also serve the interests of the people. 



The call was part president Tinubu’s determination to wipe out corruption in the region as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),

The Nigerian leader, who made the call on Monday during the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, also announced Nigeria’s donation of an office building for the permanent headquarters of NACIWA in the country.

President Tinubu who was represented at the event by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said, “In recognition of NACIWA's pivotal role in the regional anti-corruption efforts, he was proud to announce that the Nigerian government has donated a property to serve as NACIWA's permanent headquarters.

The ECOWAS Chairman urged member countries of the regional body to move beyond rhetoric and focus on concrete actions targeted at harmonizing their “legal frameworks to close loopholes exploited by corrupt individuals.”

President Tinubu reaffirmed what he described as Nigeria's unwavering commitment to NACIWA’s success “and the broader anti-corruption agenda within ECOWAS,” assuring that working together in synergy will enable member countries to “build more vital institutions, foster regional unity, and pave the way for a prosperous and corruption-free West Africa.”


Earlier, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, noted that there is an urgent need for regional and global cooperation in the battle against corruption, describing it as a cancer that threatens Africa’s stability and development.

Ambassador Tuggar also highlighted the alarming scale of financial loss due to corruption, pointing to UN estimates that Africa loses $88.6 billion annually to illicit financial flows—funds that could have been used for essential public services like schools and hospitals- just as Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), emphasised the crucial role of collaborative efforts in the fight against corruption.


On their part, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede,  ICPC’s Musa ALIYU urged regional anti-corruption bodies to adapt their strategies to evolving threats while emphasizing that the fight against corruption is a long-term struggle requiring unwavering commitment.

They called for full adherence to the 2021 ECOWAS protocol on anti-corruption and recommended the use of digital tools to enhance the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures.



Other dignitaries present at the summit included Chairman Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Udende Emmanuel; Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi; Heads of ECOWAS Anti-Corruption Agencies, and representatives of UN agencies, among many others.